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Tonic   /tˈɑnɪk/   Listen
noun
Tonic  n.  
1.
(Phon.) A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.
2.
(Mus.) The key tone, or first tone of any scale.
3.
(Med.) A medicine that increases the strength, and gives vigor of action to the system.
Tonic sol-fa (Mus.), the name of the most popular among letter systems of notation (at least in England), based on key relationship, and hence called "tonic." Instead of the five lines, clefs, signature, etc., of the usual notation, it employs letters and the syllables do, re, mi, etc., variously modified, with other simple signs of duration, of upper or lower octave, etc. See Sol-fa.


adjective
Tonic  adj.  
1.
Of or relating to tones or sounds; specifically (Phon.), applied to, or distingshing, a speech sound made with tone unmixed and undimmed by obstruction, such sounds, namely, the vowels and diphthongs, being so called by Dr. James Rush (1833) " from their forming the purest and most plastic material of intonation."
2.
Of or pertaining to tension; increasing tension; hence, increasing strength; as, tonic power.
3.
(Med.) Increasing strength, or the tone of the animal system; obviating the effects of debility, and restoring healthy functions.
4.
(Med.) Characterized by continuous muscular contraction; as, tonic convulsions.
Tonic spasm. (Med.) See the Note under Spasm.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Tonic" Quotes from Famous Books



... see the doctor he will, of course, order you a tonic, and perhaps tell us to take you to the seaside. If that is the case, we must do so, Iris—we must do our duty by you, whatever happens. It would never do for you ...
— A Little Mother to the Others • L. T. Meade
... I have said, had acted like a tonic on the colonel, bracing him up to renewed efforts, and reacting on his guests, who in return did their best to make the breakfast a ...
— Colonel Carter of Cartersville • F. Hopkinson Smith
... is significant of Edwards' unique position. The doctrine of Calvinism, by whatever name it may be called, is a mental tonic of tremendous potency. Whether in its theological dress, as attributing all events to the absolute decrees of the Almighty, or in its metaphysical dress, as declaring that some abstract necessity governs ...
— Hours in a Library, Volume I. (of III.) • Leslie Stephen
... has successfully adopted, illustrating his views with very good wood-cuts derived from the atlases of Wilson, Neligan, and Dendy. In many cases he believes constitutional debility to be the primary difficulty, and recommends a tonic regimen as the best preliminary to a ...
— The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 100, February, 1866 • Various
... or Irritate the Eye, but is Soothing in its action. Tonic, Astringent and an Antiseptic Lotion, and while it is used by Physicians it is in every sense a Domestic Remedy and can be used by every one with Perfect Safety for the Prevention of Eye Troubles and for Affections and ...
— The Blunders of a Bashful Man • Metta Victoria Fuller Victor


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